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Gardner safety committee reports staffing changes, grants and equipment needs
Summary
The Safety Committee updated the council on vacancies and staffing changes in health, building, police and fire departments, highlighted grants including a pending federal radio grant for the fire department, and reported permit and inspection backlogs in the building department.
The Gardner City Council received a report from the Safety Committee on Oct. 20 covering recent staffing changes, departmental projects and grant applications in the health, building, police and fire departments.
The health department reported the resignation of Public Health Director Blondeau effective at the end of the week, the transfer station supervisor’s resignation effective Oct. 15, and that Assistant Director DiPrima will serve as acting director while recruitment continues. The health department also noted one bid for replacement leachate pumps came in at roughly double expected costs and that erosion repairs to the landfill cap are required. The city renewed a solid waste contract with E.L. Harvey through 2031.
The building commissioner reported a newly hired assistant local inspector and one additional full‑time position still open; permit reviews have a roughly three‑week lead time and inspection requests currently have a two‑to‑three‑day wait. The committee said staff met with a vendor about GovWell as a replacement to OpenGov to streamline permitting and that a records‑scanning project is underway.
The police department reported several current vacancies and three upcoming retirements creating overtime pressures. The department has applied for grants that the committee said include a $20,000 grant to support a full‑time domestic violence advocate position and a $30,000 municipal road safety grant to add traffic safety signs. The department's recent body‑worn camera program is expected to be operational by Jan. 1. Dispatch staffing was reported stable at 11 filled positions; animal control is fully staffed.
The fire department reported that three new recruit firefighters have joined regular shifts and staffing has stabilized despite one firefighter on modified duty; overtime costs have decreased. Chief Laguay told the committee the department is awaiting federal approval for a radio replacement grant of $363,941.96; the department said the radios are more than 15 years old and the grant would replace outdated equipment. The department also is receiving a used ambulance from Westminster to serve as backup while one ambulance is mechanically out of service.
The Safety Committee moved to place the committee update on file; the council voted to place the update on file.
